A plurality of zones is formed in a communication network on the vehicle, and a communication path in a loop form is formed in each zone by zone trunk lines and a backup line. The backup line is connected by a switch only at the time of disconnection so that the loop is not closed. At the time of disconnection detection, an instruction is automatically given to rewrite content of routing maps on zone ECUs and a central gateway. Since each node preferentially selects a communication path that bypasses a disconnection portion from the start of communication by rewriting the content of the routing maps, it is possible to avoid an increase in communication delay. An inter-zone backup line connecting a plurality of zones is provided to enable the use of a new path across the plurality of zones at the time of disconnection.

A communication path in a loop form is formed by trunk lines and a redundant communication path, which is formed by a switch and a backup line. In order to be applied to a bus-type communication network such as a CAN, the switch is normally off, and the backup line is disconnected from a path in a steady state. A disconnection detection unit is provided at each of joint connectors. When any disconnection detection unit detects disconnection, the switch is closed to enable use of the redundant path. Further, content of a routing map of a central gateway is automatically rewritten to preferentially select the redundant path that is not disconnected, and thus the path is changed.

A security system for a vehicle network of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle network includes a gateway and domain controllers for specific areas of the vehicle. The security system may validate messages sent from the gateway. The security system may also utilize split decryption keys in order to decrypt messages in the vehicle network. The security system may also utilize asymmetrical encryption keys in order to secure data within the vehicle network.

This control device comprises a communication unit, one or more functional units, and communication lines that connect the communication unit and the one or more functional units and are independent of each other. The communication unit is configured to execute a first task of sending out, with a first cycle, a first communication frame for executing transmission of data collected by the functional unit to the communication unit and/or transmission of data held by the communication unit to the functional unit via a first communication line among the communication lines, and a second task of sending out, with a second cycle different from the first cycle, a second communication frame for executing transmission of the data collected by the functional unit to the communication unit and/or transmission of the data held by the communication unit to the functional unit via a second communication line among the communication lines.

An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a communication controller configured to receive a control instruction from a remote control, a flight controller electrically connected to the communication interface through a communication interface and a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and a center board controller electrically connected to the flight controller through a controller area network (CAN) bus and electrically connected to a load of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The communication interface is configured to transmit the control instruction. The USB interface is configured to transmit upgrade data of the flight controller. The flight controller is configured to control the unmanned aerial vehicle according to the control instruction. The center board controller is configured to receive the control instruction from the communication controller and forward the control instruction to the load.

The present invention provides an in-vehicle communication device and an in-vehicle system that can establish communication, in a short time, between applications corresponding to the same communication protocol between in-vehicle processing devices connected to communication buses having different communication protocols. In the present invention, when the first communication controller 33 has received a specific message from the first in-vehicle processing device 102 connected to the first communication bus 101, the in-vehicle communication device 1 transmits a communication protocol switching command from the second communication controller 3 to the second in-vehicle processing device 202 connected to the second communication bus 201 to switch a communication protocol setting of the second communication controller to the same communication protocol setting as that of the first communication bus.

Provided is a communication system including: a first communication bus available for communication of at least a first communication scheme; a second communication bus available for both communication of the first communication scheme and communication of a second communication scheme having a lower processing load than the first communication scheme; a plurality of first communication devices connected to both the first communication bus and the second communication bus; a plurality of second communication devices, connected to the second communication bus, which perform communication through the second communication scheme using the second communication bus; and a processor that detects an abnormality of the first communication bus, wherein each of the plurality of first communication devices performs communication through the first communication scheme using the first communication bus in a case where the abnormality of the first communication bus is not detected by the processor, and performs communication through the first communication scheme using the second communication bus in a case where the abnormality of the first communication bus is detected by the processor.

An EtherCAT fieldbus system has an EtherCAT master and a number of EtherCAT slaves. The EtherCAT master and the number of EtherCAT slaves are coupled together by an EtherCAT fieldbus in order to exchange data. A method ascertains active EtherCAT slaves by way of the EtherCAT master; requests respective product codes of the active EtherCAT slaves by way of the master; ascertains a respective device identification of the active EtherCAT slaves from the respective product codes by way of the EtherCAT master, and switches the state of the EtherCAT fieldbus system into the operational state by way of the EtherCAT master if the respective device identification of the active EtherCAT slaves matches a specified device identification.

A method of configuring an automotive data communications network and a controller for the automotive data communications network are disclosed. The automotive data communications network comprises first and second controllers, each controller being operatively connected in use to a data bus and to a high-speed data communications channel. Each data bus is operatively connected to one or more electronic devices. The method comprises receiving a first data message over the high-speed data communications channel at the first controller; determining a network address associated with the second controller in dependence on the received first data message; and outputting a second data message from the first controller over the high-speed data communications channel, the second data message enabling the second controller to determine a network address associated with the first controller.

An on-board system includes: a plurality of detectors provided to a vehicle; a controller configured to control an on-board instrument mounted on the vehicle based on detection information indicating a result of detection by each of the detectors; a detector hub interposed between each of the detectors and the controller in an intercommunicatable manner and configured to collect the detection information obtained by the detectors and transmit the collected detection information to the controller; a first network connecting the on-board instrument and the controller in an intercommunicatable manner; and a second network independent from the first network and connecting the detectors, the detector hub, and the controller in an intercommunicatable manner. As a result, the on-board system and the detector hub can achieve appropriate communication.